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Police, Jan. 13

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No one was injured when a car collided with a bus on state Route 309 at 34th Street in Hazle Township Friday afternoon, state police said.

The car, driven by Maxwell Howe, 21, of West Hazleton, was lodged underneath the bus, which was stopped with its warning lights on dropping off students at 3:30 p.m., police said. Howe apparently did not see the stopped bus, driven by Donna Strong of Drums, and couldn't stop in time, police said.

Eleven Hazleton Area School District students were on the bus, and none were injured, police said. District officials assisted state police at the scene, notifying parents. Another bus transported the students home.

Howe will be cited for several violations via summons, troopers said.

Man charged after tools stolen, sold

A Drifton man allegedly stole a variety of tools from a Freeland home and then sold them to a Hazleton pawn shop.

Court papers state Gonzalez stole various tools, including saws and a cordless drill with a charger, all valued at $1,566, owned by Eli De Castillo, who on Dec. 4 reported a break-in at his home.

On Dec. 5, a Hazleton officer notified Freeland police that De Castillo found some of the tools at a city pawn shop. Police said Gonzalez was identified as the man who sold the tools to the shop for $200, and that he then admitted to stealing the tools.

Two face charges in Dec. 28 fight

A Freeland man and woman face charges after a fight on Dec. 28.

Elizabeth Stefanick, 19, was charged with felony counts of criminal trespass and aggravated assault, and misdemeanor counts of defiant trespass, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. She was arraigned Monday by Magisterial District Judge John E. Hasay, who set bail at 10 percent of $2,600, court papers state.

Andrew E. Cichy, 20, was charged with misdemeanor simple assault and summary violations for harassment and criminal mischief. He was arraigned Dec. 29 by Magisterial District Judge Dana Malast, who set bail at $2,500, court papers state.

Stefanick originally was cited for underage drinking related to the incident but police withdrew that charge, according to court papers.

The woman went into a borough home looking for Cichy at 5:30 a.m. and started arguing with him, court papers state. She was told to leave the home but refused several times, court papers state, and Cichy then ran out of the home while Stefanick chased him in her vehicle.

Police said Stefanick hit Cichy in the face with a bottle twice in the area of Deterick Street, while Cichy hit Stefanick twice in her face, causing her glasses, valued at $150, to fall off her face and break at Della Croce Field.

Bar owner cited for liquor violation

Leonard M. Shenosky, doing business as Lenny's L.A. Cafe, 594-596 Alter St., Hazleton, was cited by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement after a Nov. 15 offense.

The bureau said the liquor code violation occurred when a bartender consumed an alcoholic beverage while serving alcohol.

The charge will be brought before an administrative law judge.

Charges filed for reported theft

Stephen M. Smolar, 40, Tamaqua, was charged by borough police with a misdemeanor count of unsworn falsification to authorities in relation to a Nov. 14 report of a dining table and coin theft at his home, according to court papers.

Two drivers were taken to Hazleton General Hospital after a crash at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday on South Hunter Highway, Butler Township police said.

Police said Lois Olsen, 86, of Hazle Township, exited the National Penn Bank parking lot and drove into the path of a vehicle driven by Jared Ceol, 18, of Drums.

Olsen was removed from her vehicle by Valley Regional Fire and Rescue members, police said. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Vehicle travels into parking lot

A Hatfield driver lost control of his vehicle early Thursday morning on South Hunter Highway in Butler Township and traveled into a parking lot, police said.

Nicholas Hanes, 23, was not injured in the 5 a.m. incident, police said. According to police, Hanes' vehicle traveled across the highway and down an embankment into the Foothills Drive parking lot of Dr. Deborah Mistal. Police said the vehicle struck an outside container and came to rest.

Burglary attempt in Butler probed

Butler Township police are investigating an attempted burglary at a Lions Drive home.

According to police, someone tried to force open a door to the home at 8:30 p.m. Monday. Police said they believe an alarm scared the person away.

Package stolen from mailbox

Butler Township police are investigating the theft of an item from a West Butler Drive resident's mailbox Wednesday.

The victim told police she went to retrieve a package from her mailbox and found that it had been opened and the item inside removed, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-788-3230.

Charges filed in 2011 traffic stop

Butler Township police filed charges of driving under the influence against Brandon Van Blargan, 20, of Drums, as the result of a traffic stop more than a year ago.

Police said that on Nov. 10, 2011, officers stopped a speeding vehicle on St. Johns Road and alleged that the driver, Van Blargan, appeared to be under the influence.

A blood test found he had been drinking alcohol and using marijuana, police said. Van Blargan's blood alcohol content was .062 percent, according to police. In Pennsylvania, a person under age 21 can be charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content of .02 percent or higher.

Jewelry and bonds stolen from home

Butler Township police said silver jewelry and U.S. savings bonds were stolen from a home on the 100 block of Sunset Drive between 12:45 and 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Police said a window was forced open.

Hit-run damages pillar at hotel

Butler Township police are investigating a hit-and-run crash in which a vehicle damaged a pillar at the Holiday Inn Express in Drums early Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-788-3230.

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